# How to Customize the Rules for i-have-adhd: A Complete Guide to Modifying SKILL.md > Customize i-have-adhd rules by editing SKILL.md. This guide shows you how to modify the extension's persistent context for personalized ADHD support. - Repository: [Ayoub Ghriss/i-have-adhd](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-07 --- **Yes, you can customize the rules for i-have-adhd by editing the [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) file, which the extension loads via the `loadRules()` function and injects into the conversation as persistent context until explicitly disabled.** The *i-have-adhd* repository provides a Pi Coding Agent extension that modifies AI interactions to better support ADHD workflows. According to the source code in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts), the rule set is not hardcoded but read dynamically from a Markdown file, allowing you to customize the rules for i-have-adhd to match your specific cognitive preferences. When activated, the extension loads the raw rule text and maintains it as active conversation context until you explicitly turn the mode off. ## Where the Rules Are Stored The extension stores its behavior configuration in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md), referenced by the constant `SKILL_PATH`. In [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts), the `loadRules()` function (lines 42-60) reads this file and returns the content as a string. Because the rules live in plain Markdown, you can edit them with any text editor without recompiling the TypeScript source. ## How Rule Injection Works The extension manages rule state through four distinct operations defined in the source code: **Load rules**: The `loadRules()` function (lines 42-60) reads `SKILL_PATH` and pulls raw rule text from [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md). **Inject rules**: The `syncContext()` function sends a custom message of type `i-have-adhd-rules` when the mode is enabled, making the rules visible to the model for the entire session. **Disable rules**: When turning the mode off via the "stop adhd mode" or "normal mode" phrases, or through the `/i-have-adhd off` command, `syncContext()` sends a message of type `i-have-adhd-disabled` to remove the context. **Always-on flag**: The `restoreState()` function (lines 50-55) checks for a file named `.i-have-adhd-always` in the agent directory (using `join(getAgentDir(), ".i-have-adhd-always")`) to enable the mode automatically on startup. ## Three Ways to Customize Your Rules ### Edit SKILL.md Directly The simplest method to customize the rules for i-have-adhd is to modify [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) directly. Any changes take effect the next time the session starts or when context synchronizes. ```markdown // Path: skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md // (add or modify any rule section) // Example: change the time-estimate rule ### 6. Give specific time estimates Vague estimates fail. Use concrete units like "5 minutes" instead of "soon." ``` ### Use a Custom Rule File For project-specific configurations, copy [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) to a new location and modify the `SKILL_PATH` variable in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) to point to your custom file. This approach requires restarting the extension but allows different rule sets per workspace without altering the original repository files. ### Enable Rules by Default Place an empty file named `.i-have-adhd-always` in your agent directory. The `restoreState()` function detects this flag during initialization and automatically enables the mode without requiring manual activation. ```bash # From the repository root touch .i-have-adhd-always ``` ## Runtime Commands and Toggles While you cannot dynamically change the rule text without editing the file, you can toggle the mode at runtime using the `/i-have-adhd` command registered in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) (lines 73-92): ```text /i-have-adhd on # turn on /i-have-adhd off # turn off /i-have-adhd # check current state ``` The command handler processes these arguments to trigger `syncContext()` and inject or remove the rule messages. ## Summary - Rules are stored in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md) and loaded by the `loadRules()` function (lines 42-60) - Customize rules by editing the Markdown file; changes apply on the next session start or context sync - Use the `.i-have-adhd-always` flag file to enable rules by default via `restoreState()` (lines 50-55) - Toggle rules at runtime with `/i-have-adhd on` and `/i-have-adhd off` commands - The extension does not support API-based rule injection; file modification is required for permanent changes ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I change the rules without restarting the session? No. The extension reads [`SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/SKILL.md) at session initialization or during context synchronization. While you can toggle the mode on and off at runtime using `/i-have-adhd` or the phrases "stop adhd mode" and "normal mode," changing the actual rule text requires editing the file and restarting the session for the changes to take effect. ### Does i-have-adhd support multiple rule profiles? Not natively. The extension reads from a single `SKILL_PATH` constant. To use different rules for different projects, you must modify the `SKILL_PATH` variable in [`extensions/i-have-adhd.ts`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/extensions/i-have-adhd.ts) to point to different Markdown files, or maintain separate copies of the extension with different configurations. ### How do I make the ADHD mode start automatically? Create an empty file named `.i-have-adhd-always` in your agent directory. The `restoreState()` function detects this file during initialization (lines 50-55) and enables the mode automatically without requiring the `/i-have-adhd on` command. ### Are the rules hardcoded in the TypeScript source? No. The rules live entirely in [`skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md`](https://github.com/ayghri/i-have-adhd/blob/main/skills/i-have-adhd/SKILL.md). The TypeScript code only handles loading via `loadRules()`, injecting context via `syncContext()`, and toggling state via the command handler, making customization accessible to anyone who can edit Markdown.